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A new voice rang out, saying, “Oh, don’t even think about that! Go on, honey. Have fun in sunny California. Enjoy the beach.” The older woman flashed a toothy grin. “And enjoy the men! There’s a beach there where the guys work out right there for everyone to see. Shirtless hunks just lifting weights!” She fanned herself with her hand and sent Tessa a cheeky wink.

Tessa laughed.

“If I were younger, I’d go with you and try to get me one of those guys!”

Appraising Ms. Craig, Tessa believed her. Though she was pushing eighty, had silver hair and a frail body now, a certain twinkle in her gray eyes indicated that in her younger days she’d been quite a fun-loving lady.

The older woman stepped out of the doorway that led to the kitchen and ran her hands down her front, putting white streaks of flour on the red apron she wore. She then reached around her back, untied the apron, and took it off before tossing it on a chair at one of the nearby tables.

“Now, come give an old woman a hug.”

Tessa eagerly went into her arms.

“I’m going to miss you, kiddo.”

“We all are,” Mr. Banks agreed. “And I want a hug, too.”

With tears now in her eyes, Tessa said, “I’m going to miss you both too.” She sniffled. “I’m going to miss everyone.”

“Oh, honey. Don’t you cry,” Ms. Craig said. “We’ll still be here and you can come for a visit. Or we’ll come visit you. That’s even better. What do you say, Al?”

Mr. Banks laughed. “I like that idea the best! You can find you one of those muscled-up guys on the beach and I’ll talk to some young bikini babe.”

Everyone laughed.

“Maybe some of those California gals are looking for a sugar daddy,” he added.

“My goodness, Al. It takes money to be a sugar daddy. You don’t have any, remember?” Ms. Craig said.

Tessa knew that was true. That was why he hung out at the community senior center, taking advantage of the meals program. He volunteered there too, and worked hard. But she suspected he didn’t have many groceries at home.

None of the people who Tessa delivered meals to had much money. It wasn’t likely they’d ever go to California, and Tessa worried she’d never see Ms. Craig, Mr. Banks, or the people on her delivery route ever again.

Her concern must have been evident, because Ms. Craig put a gentle hand on Tessa’s arm and said, “Honey, you listen to me. You’ve worked so hard for this moment and your dream is finally coming true. Go. Don’t give it a second thought. And in a year or two, you’ll have made it big in the movie industry, and you can come home for a visit.”

Al’s chair scraped loudly across the floor as he stood. Once he was standing by them, he said, “Yeah. You’ll be the hometown hero! We’ll all watch the Oscars right here at the senior center. And when you win one, we’ll cheer so darn loud!”

All three laughed, but tears were still flooding Tessa’s eyes.

“He’s right. Oh, Tessa, you’re going to do such wonderful things! It’ll be exciting! And we’ll all be cheering for you right here,” Ms. Craig added.

“Thank you,” Tessa managed to say before hugging the both of them.

After pulling away and drying her eyes, she told them, “Mr. Hastings is worried he won’t get banana pudding today. It’s his favorite.”

Ms. Craig chuckled and waved it off. “Oh, I’ll handle Bob.”

Tessa nodded. “And Mrs. Thorne asked if we had any extra cat food. Mittens is running low and⁠—”

“Honey,” Ms. Craig said, taking Tessa’s hands in hers. “We will handle this. Go. You’re going to miss your bus!”

After more hugs, Tessa went out the door, waving as she left her friends behind.

“They’ll be fine,” she said under her breath as she walked toward the bus station. “Go on your adventure.”

“Who are you talking to?”

Tessa looked up to see Tiffany blocking the sidewalk. Looking to her left, she saw the nice car—and driver—at the curb waiting.